Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:47.120><c> families</c> in agriculture and with farm families in agriculture and with farm
• or from Boswell Farms or from Reed Farms.
• Cafeterias of the farms in which the food comes from.
• or from Boswell Farms or from Reed Farms.
• My son, oldest son, has followed the family into farming.

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• Trump is probably, historically, in modern history, the best farm president.
• Farm income spiked for the first time in decades under his last administration.
• There's no issue that's united us more than this chronic health epidemic.
• I don't regulate farms.
• If I'm privileged to be confirmed, I'm not regulating farms; that's under USDA.

Committee: Senate Finance Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Anna has spoken at the United Nations.
• It includes duplexes, townhouses, and other multi-unit options.
• It is adjacent to farms.
• We need to create more units.
• across 100 different projects across our Commonwealth. 7,000 units.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> studies suggest offer winds wind farms studies suggest offer winds wind farms are<01:10:42.120><
• I have a farm up there, Family Farm, and I oppose this bill.
• , including sea farms and fish farms and all that, are affected by Chinese chemicals.
• And they have a farm that they just sell, and they have a farm for their family to eat.
• farms and fish farms and all that sea farms and fish farms and all that are<04:31:39.319><c> affected

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> President of the United States. President of the United States.
• </c> and economy of the United States. and economy of the United States.
• </c> success of the United States of America. success of the United States of America.
• </c> across the South of the United States. across the South of the United States.
• the United States of America.

Bills: HB2853 , HB2071 , HR1259 , HB8352 , HB2267 , HR1252 , HR1251 , HB4478 , HB3709 , HB4437

Keywords: organized retail crime, retail theft, cargo theft, supply chain crime, shoplifting, organized theft groups, cargo diversion, stolen goods, fencing, online marketplace, e-commerce, gift cards, prepaid cards, money laundering, Homeland Security Investigations, HSI, Department of Homeland Security, DHS, interstate theft, transnational crime

Transcript Highlights:

• Lower sales for our farms.
• I'm a farmer's market employee for a HIP vendor farm, and I'm a farm technical assistance provider.
• I'm a farmer's market employee for a HIP vendor farm, and I'm a farm technical assistance provider.
• As a farm service provider, I've worked with many farms who earn New market access.
• As a farm service provider, I've worked with many farms who earn more than half of their revenue from

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The Joint Ways and Means Committee held its final public hearing on the FY26 state budget, with chairs and members emphasizing that public testimony would help shape the budget and asking speakers to keep remarks brief. Committee leaders introduced members, explained the hearing process, and repeatedly thanked residents, students, and advocates for participating. No votes were taken during the hearing. Testimony focused heavily on education funding and the Chapter 70 formula. Students from Amherst, Northampton, Gateway Regional, Chester Elementary, and other districts described budget-driven cuts to electives, special education supports, paraprofessionals, counselors, transportation, and building maintenance. They urged higher Chapter 70 aid, increased minimum aid, rural school aid, and a reopening or restructuring of the funding formula, arguing that current formulas leave many districts unable to meet student needs and force local layoffs and overrides. Other speakers urged funding or protection for a range of programs and facilities, including the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute for homicide survivor services, the Museum of African American History, the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and CART/interpreter services, the Access to Counsel housing legal aid program, the Department of Mental Health and Pocasset Mental Health Center, and Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children. One speaker opposed offshore wind-related spending and urged a reset of the state’s energy approach, while another advocated ending the aircraft sales tax exemption. Committee members responded sympathetically to many speakers, asked a few follow-up questions, and several expressed support for maintaining or expanding the programs discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1033 is about farm vehicles and emission inspection requirements.
• , federally defined as covered farm vehicles.
• from the owner's ranch or farm.
• Mark Figenbaum with Missouri Farm Bureau, and we'd like to testify in support.
• Retrofitting these farm vehicles can be extremely costly for folks.

Committees: House Agriculture , House Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• I know that as I talk about farmers, this will relate to you as a farming yourself.
• Specifically, we enforce farm to fork and vine to glass.
• in farming for one more year.
• Our organization has supported farm workers through education.
• Over 33,000 farm workers in total over the last 15 years, and 3,000 people annually.

Transcript Highlights:

• This applies to multi-unit rental properties, is that correct?
• There are two large farms, I don't know... ...one small problem.
• There are two large farms, and those are not in the city limits.
• Those two farms do not want to be annexed into the city.
• Would this be an expansion, possibly without those farms being annexed in?

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, we have Hawaii Farm Bureau. Hawaii Farm Bureau. Thank you, Chair.
• Farm Bureau, thank you, Vice Chair. The Farm Bureau will stand on testimony and support.
• </c> support Farm support Farm Bureau<00:39:09.240><c> thank</c><00:39:09.359><c> you</c><00:39:09.480
• </c> Bureau thank you Vice chair the H Farm Bureau thank you Vice chair the H Farm will<00:39:10.680>
• Hawaii Farm Bureau, thank you, Vice Chair. The Farm Bureau will start on all righty.

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> market and our improving our Farms market and our improving our Farms economic<00:17:30.440><c>
• and enhancing rural communities for farm and enhancing rural communities for our<00:18:03.240><c> Farm
• Furthermore, on program uniqueness, just for background, Farm Business Management occurs on the farm.
• of farm?
• </c> that's coming into play in the farm that's coming into play in the farm country<01:23:32.520><c>

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the founder of Cultivar Farms, a Tier 3 producer-processor in Seattle.
• My name is Brandon Park, and I'm here representing Hugo Farms.
• My name is Brandon Park, and I'm here representing Hugo Farms.
• When wholesale prices collapse, the fiscal impact doesn't stop at the farm.
• The largest farms in the state would have to sell only $800 a day in product.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 5882 would extend workers’ compensation PTSD presumptions to local correctional facility workers after 90 days of employment, with staff explaining the bill’s scope, fiscal note, and how claims would affect employers’ experience ratings. The sponsor and labor representatives supported the measure as a response to correctional officer trauma, while cities, retailers, and self-insurers opposed it over cost, system sustainability, and the need for more study. Labor and Industries said the estimated five-year state-fund claim cost ranges from $6.7 million to $15.3 million, and the hearing closed after testimony from both sides. The committee then heard SB 6196, which would impose a 95% excise tax on kratom products starting in 2027, create licensing and labeling requirements, and direct revenue to youth harmful substance prevention. Supporters argued kratom is unregulated and increasingly available to youth, and some urged age-gating and stronger restrictions on synthetic concentrated products. Opponents, including retailers and the American Kratom Association, said the bill is too punitive, would hurt legitimate businesses, and should be revised into a consumer protection framework rather than treated like a controlled substance. No vote was taken. SB 6204, allowing adults to grow up to six cannabis plants at home with a 15-plant household cap, drew strong support from cannabis advocates and some medical users, who said home grow should have been part of legalization and would help consumers understand the plant. Opponents from law enforcement, cities, and public health warned about youth access, enforcement problems, fire and chemical risks, and possible impacts on cannabis tax revenue. The committee also heard SB 6134, requiring notice to striking workers about possible UI overpayments if they later receive retroactive wages, which the sponsor said would prevent surprise repayment obligations; testimony was overwhelmingly supportive. Finally, SB 6195, aimed at reducing cannabis oversupply by tying producer canopy size to reported sales, drew broad support from cannabis businesses and trade groups, who said it would stabilize the market and address JLARC’s findings, with some stakeholders asking for implementation fixes and clearer language.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that is the Florida Farm Bill. Are there amendments? On the desk, Mr. President.
• I haven't seen a single study from the United States with the proper percentage of fluoride that says
• Yes, but they understand that they would probably do a uniform carton across the United States.
• So why is this in the Farm Bill? Senator Trunow. Thank you, Mr. President.
• It's not farming; farming is not my wheelhouse. But I am open-minded and I'm trying to learn.

Summary: The Senate opened with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, doctor and gallery introductions, and several recognitions, including USF Day at the Capitol and visitors from Miami Gardens, Teach For America Florida, and Pathways to Prosperity. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar and considered a series of bills, with several measures temporarily postponed and others passed after debate and roll call votes. The Senate unanimously passed several Open Government Sunset Review bills, including SB 7010 and SB 7008, which preserve public records exemptions related to insolvent insurance company receiverships and financial technology sandbox applications. It also passed SB 1430 on post-judgment execution proceedings for terrorism victims, SB 910 on veterans benefits assistance, SB 796 on general permits for distributed wastewater treatment systems, SB 28 and SB 22 as claims bills involving South Broward Hospital District, SB 8 for relief related to a Pasco County School Board accident, SB 1718 preserving a public records exemption for minors seeking abortions without parental consent, and SB 994 on driver’s license education requirements. SB 832 on former phosphate mining lands also passed, but with two amendments and some opposition. A major portion of the meeting focused on SB 700, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill, which included technical updates, restrictions on certain additives in public water systems, limits on ESG practices in farm lending, drone-related penalties, truth-in-labeling provisions for meat, milk, poultry, and eggs, charity registration requirements, agricultural worker housing, and support for FFA and 4-H. The most contentious debate centered on fluoride provisions in the bill: multiple amendments by Senators Berman and Polsky to remove the fluoride language, require targeted fluoride assistance, or order an OPAGA study were all defeated, while a technical amendment by Senator Truenow was adopted. The bill remained on the calendar for third reading after extensive debate and questioning. At the end of the session, the Senate adopted motions to certify passed bills to the House, retain postponed bills on the special order calendar, and return CS for SB 7016 to second reading, then adjourned until April 16.

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands
• Bureau Humane Society of police uh Farm Bureau Humane Society and<00:50:31.240><c> someone</c><00:50
• </c> addition to what can be sold at Farm addition to what can be sold at Farm stands<04:45:04.638><c
• on family farms.
• </c> uh if you've raised them on your farm uh if you've raised them on your farm 20,000<05:32:30.400>

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee opened by noting member absences and then reviewed the governor’s HB 2 trailer bill language creating a solid waste site evaluation committee. The chair explained that Finance would want the committee’s input on the proposal and also announced a temporary change to the committee’s schedule, with additional Wednesday meetings planned around school vacation. The committee then moved into a work session on several bills. On HB 150, Representative Ktoa offered a simple amendment changing food-processing language from “washed and rinsed” to “cleaned and sanitized” in the processing area. Members agreed the change better matched food safety practice, and the committee indicated support for advancing the bill. On HB 307, dealing with homestead food production areas, members discussed proposed amendment language that would add clearer sanitary requirements, including handwashing access, sanitary storage, sanitizable food-contact surfaces, and pest exclusion. The committee also discussed whether to replace “potentially hazardous food” with “time temperature control safe food,” but several members favored keeping the existing term because it is already well defined in food safety law. The bill was held for further amendment work rather than being executed immediately. The committee spent substantial time on solid waste legislation. For HB 479, members recalled a prior plan for a letter to the solid waste working group and agreed to proceed with the bill in executive session, with an offer of drafting help from Representative Bixby. For HB 77, which would require DES to establish site-specific setback distances for proposed new landfills, Representative Penza said his amendment was not ready yet but was close, and the bill was left for further discussion. The most detailed discussion was on HB 2115, which would require landfill permit applicants to submit a report on the project’s harms and benefits. Representative Germana explained an amendment that would replace section one, expand the list of benefits to include economic potential and infrastructure improvements, and set up a third-party review process in which the applicant submits a list of reviewers, DES screens the list, and the commissioner selects a reviewer if no agreement is reached within 60 days. Members asked about who could serve as contractors, whether they had to be local, and how DES would judge qualifications; the response was that environmental engineering and similar firms could be used, local or outside the community, and that the process would remain somewhat flexible. Representative H. Haskins asked whether the legislature or subcommittee would be formally notified of preliminary review problems, and the chair said no additional notification process would be built in beyond existing practice. The committee planned to continue work on the bills in upcoming executive sessions, including after school break.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the practices on their farm.
• I was actually at one of these farms, and that was Five Sigma Farm in Sullivan, New Hampshire.
• Five Sigma Farm in Sullivan, New Five Sigma Farm in Sullivan, New Hampshire.<00:59:47.680><c> Um</c><
• </c> farm grants. farm grants. &gt;&gt; Representative<01:05:02.880><c> Bunson.
• story of what the farm did.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 219, which would revise the renewable portfolio standard by changing several class definitions, eliminating Class 2, lowering the utility obligation for Class 1 thermal renewable energy certificates from 2.2% to 1.7%, and adjusting alternative compliance payments. Representative Vose said the bill would save ratepayers an estimated $5.7 million annually, arguing that Class 2 is already saturated and that the changes would not materially affect renewable energy development. Members questioned the fiscal impact, with an amended fiscal note cited as showing a $1.2 million reduction in general fund revenue, and some members raised concerns that the bill could weaken one of the remaining incentives for renewable investment. The committee also reviewed the bill’s history, including that it had been added to HB 2 and then removed in conference committee. No vote was taken in the work session. The committee then heard House Bill 164, concerning local records retention and the creation of a local records manager position. Secretary of State David Scanlan testified that the position has existed in statute for years but has never been funded, and said the need has grown as records management has become more digital and ADA accessibility has become more important. He described the bill as a way to help towns preserve and digitize records, especially for smaller communities with limited resources, while keeping records locally when possible. Members asked about the fiscal note, the potential cost of a public website and storage system, and whether the state could start by funding the position alone; the secretary said the staffing cost estimate remained accurate but that storage costs could rise over time. Several members expressed support and suggested further discussion with the Department of Information or other agencies. The work session was then closed without action. Finally, the committee opened House Bill 365, which would provide proof of U.S. citizenship assistance for indigent voters. Secretary Scanlan said the bill is intended to help voters comply with the new voter registration documentation requirements by allowing the state to verify eligibility through federal, private, and other state databases, and by providing vouchers to cover the cost of obtaining documents such as birth certificates. He compared the proposal to the earlier voter ID law, which he said was successfully implemented with accommodations for voters lacking acceptable ID. Members asked how “indigent” would be defined and how the process would work for out-of-state-born applicants; the secretary said indigency would likely be based on a voter’s statement of inability to pay and that the state would help identify where to obtain records and, if necessary, verify them through outside databases. The discussion continued as the transcript ended, with no vote recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• in lines starting in lines 2.21<00:03:04.760><c> uh</c><00:03:04.879><c> local</c><00:03:05.200><c> units
• /c><00:03:05.519><c> of</c><00:03:05.720><c> government</c><00:03:06.239><c> can</c> 2.21 uh local units
• of government can 2.21 uh local units of government can can<00:03:07.440><c> get</c> can get can get
• </c> the number of 68 extensions local units the number of 68 extensions local units of<00:03:17.000>
• </c><00:27:10.360><c> to</c> and responsible government units to and responsible government units to

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands
• Today, Red Masses are still celebrated throughout Florida and the United States.
• As the home state to the 45th and 47th President of the United States, there is a high likelihood that
• The allocation of 12,000, ...women to the population out of 54 National Guard units.
• The allocation of 12,000 National Guard units is based on 1958 population.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions recognizing visiting groups, including FSU students and officials, Catholic lay leaders, Broward County school officials and students, and veterans-related guests. The chamber then took up a series of bills, with several routine reviser measures passing unanimously: SB 36 adopting the 2025 Florida Statutes, SB 38 changing a division name in the statutes, SB 40 deleting repealed provisions, and SB 42 cleaning up obsolete language and cross-references. SB 50 on nature-based coastal resilience was amended to strengthen the Florida Flood Hub’s role and passed 39-0 after debate about mangroves, oyster reefs, living shorelines, and hybrid green-gray infrastructure. SB 116, a major veterans bill, passed 39-0 after extensive discussion of veteran benefits awareness, mental health training, coordination with federal agencies, adult day health care, and the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame. SB 118 on presidential libraries passed 36-3 after questions and debate over state preemption of local zoning and related regulation, and SB 126 on mailing prescription hearing aids passed 39-0 to expand access for adults after licensed evaluation. The Senate also passed SB 150, as amended, to conform to the House by changing the bill’s wording from “animals” to “dogs” in the natural-disaster abandonment context. SB 294 passed 38-0 to limit collaborative pharmacy practice from being expanded to certain serious cardiac conditions. Senate Memorial 314 was adopted by voice vote, urging Congress to seek a larger Florida National Guard force structure. SB 322 passed 39-0 creating a nonjudicial process for commercial property owners to have unauthorized occupants removed by the sheriff. SB 348 passed 39-0, making it an ethics violation to falsely claim a military rank for material gain and allowing delinquent ethics fines to be withheld from public paychecks. SB 7012 on child welfare passed 39-0 and would recruit former public safety workers into CPI/case manager roles, create a treatment foster care pilot in two judicial circuits, and improve data collection and services for commercially sexually exploited children. Later, the Senate returned to SB 108 on administrative procedures, which passed 39-0 after debate over a five-year review cycle for agency rules, reporting requirements, and greater transparency in rulemaking. SB 160 on public accountancy passed 39-0 after an amendment clarifying contracted services and discussion of easing pathways into the CPA profession while maintaining standards. SB 110 on rural communities passed after an amendment package and extensive debate, with provisions described as creating an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance grant program, housing and road funding, school support, and health care investments for rural areas. At the end of the session, the Senate waived rules to immediately certify all passed bills to the House, observed a moment of silence for former Surfside Chief John Healy, and received additional announcements before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so he had to hike out and found one of us on the farm, on the operation.
• The biologist came while my dad and I were working on farm equipment.
• No longer does deer counts on our farm. Well, thank you. I don't see any questions.
• My farm is not just a business. It's my home.
• Idaho is at the top of outdoor recreation in terms of growth in the United States.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Fusion, on the other hand, we have no commercial plants anywhere in New Mexico, anywhere in the United
• I toured the Corona wind farm and learned about the economic impact for those landowners.
• We know that air pollution will decrease solar farm productivity by up to 25%.
• We know that air pollution will decrease solar farm productivity by up to 25%.
• Years ago, when I was a child, they put a sod farm out in the middle of the desert out in this area.

Bills: SB78 , SB235 , SB22 , SB310

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Keywords: nuclear energy, renewable energy, sustainability, carbon emissions, energy regulation, microgrid, zero carbon resources, Public Regulation Commission, energy generation, electric utilities, motor vehicle manufacturers, licensing, dealers, franchise agreements, consumer protection, water supply, sewage improvements, environment, funding, Mora County

Transcript Highlights:

• the responsibility on them to establish what the minimum grazing lease amount would be per animal unit
• There is the Reno farm that's so close in the downtown Reno area, where they converted a parking lot
• There are the Reno farm that's so close in downtown Reno area where they converted a parking lot to a
• We support AB 405 to create a community gardens and urban farming program.
• Community gardens and urban farming do just that.

Committee: Senate Natural Resources